Exiled MEK group condemns execution of two members in Iran
"This brutality only intensifies the outrage of the Iranian people and reinforces the determination of Iran's courageous youth to bring an end to this theocratic tyranny," Maryam Rajavi, leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), said on X.
Rajavi is president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the political wing of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which Tehran regards as a "terrorist" group.
The men, identified as Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, were found guilty of manufacturing improvised launchers and mortars and conducting attacks that targeted civilians, homes and public and charitable institutions.
The Iranian judiciary said they aimed to "disrupt social order and endanger the safety of innocent citizens".
Both men were described as long-time affiliates of the MEK.
The timing and details of their arrest were not immediately disclosed, but Rajavi praised the two men's "three years of unwavering resistance under torture, pressure, and threats."
"I call upon the United Nations, its member states, and all defenders of human rights to take decisive action in response to this brutal crime. Mere words of condemnation are no longer sufficient," Rajavi said.
"The time has come for concrete and effective measures against a regime built on executions and torture. Continued inaction serves only to embolden this bloodthirsty regime at a moment when it is at its most vulnerable."
Several NGOs say that Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds of people and executed dozens in a wave of repression following the 12-day war with Israel, accusing the Islamic republic of using fear to compensate for weaknesses revealed by the conflict.
Iran enforces capital punishment for a range of serious crimes and ranks as the world's second-most prolific executioner after China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International.
fz-as/ yad
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, the prime minister says
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September. Carney convened a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation there. Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
GOP Split on Gaza Grows, as MTG Calls Crisis a 'Genocide'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump (L), speaks during a dinner at the White House on July 07, 2025. Credit - Andrew Harnik—Getty Images Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing lawmaker closely identified with President Donald Trump's MAGA movement, this week became the first Republican in Congress to describe the situation in Gaza as a 'genocide.' 'It's the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct. 7 in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned, but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza,' Greene, who represents Georgia, said in a social media post Monday evening. The post was in response to fellow Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who had posted last week on X: 'Release the hostages. Until then, starve away.' Greene's declaration represented a sharp turn for her on the fraught issue of Gaza. Since Hamas' terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which over 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, virtually all prominent Republicans have been in lockstep in support of Israel's military campaign. Weeks after Hamas' attack, Greene filed a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, over her criticism of Israel. Read More: The Malnutrition Crisis in Gaza Will Outlive the War, Experts Warn The shift from Greene was the latest sign of a broader debate within the Republican Party over Gaza. Greene's words came the same day as Trump seemed to break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Netanyahu's claims that there is no starvation in Gaza. Trump made clear to reporters at an event in Scotland with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he believed the starvation there was 'real.' 'We're going to set up food centers, and we're going to do it in conjunction with some very good people,' Trump said. 'We're going to supply funds… and we're going to spend a little money on some food. Other nations are joining us.' Starmer later said on Tuesday that the U.K. would recognize Palestine as a state if Israel did not make 'substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza' and make moves towards 'sustainable, long-term peace.' Though Trump did not explicitly condemn Netanyahu, he did acknowledge he 'told Bibi [Netanyahu] that you have to maybe do it a different way.' Republicans are more divided on the issue than they have been since the Oct. 7 attack. While a few fellow Republicans have joined Greene's condemnation—'More need to speak out,' she said in response to a post from Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas about Gaza's 'humanitarian crisis'—others are insisting the fault over the situation still lies with Hamas. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he 'shares the President's view,' but also accused Hamas of intercepting and diverting much of the food aid going to Gaza. 'The humanitarian thing obviously when you see people hurting in a need like that, is to want to help meet that need and alleviate that pain,' Thune said at his weekly press conference. 'I think all of us want to see, obviously, a peaceful solution there that gets the hostages freed and ends the reign and rule of Hamas in the region. But in the meantime, do everything we can to ease the pain and the hunger that's afflicting so many of the people in that region.' North Carolina's Republican Sen. Thom Thillis simultaneously told The Hill that Hamas deserves blame and that Trump was 'right to hold elected [officials] accountable,' saying he would 'encourage Mr. Netanyahu to just be sensitive to that.' Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Chris Hollen of Maryland said Sunday on CBS's Face The Nation that claims that Hamas was stealing U.N.-delivered food were a "big lie." Many others in the Republican Party remain staunch in their support for Netanyahu's government. 'I want to be crystal clear on my thoughts regarding the catastrophe in Gaza: I blame Hamas 100%,' South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham said on X on Tuesday. 'If you want this suffering to end, call on Hamas to lay down their weapons and their leaders to take safe passage out of Gaza. The criticism of Israel is beyond the pale as they are fighting for their very existence.' The split within the GOP comes amid mounting pressure from Democrats and the international community for both Israel and the U.S. to better address starvation in Gaza. On Tuesday, 40 Senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, imploring them and Trump to address starvation in Gaza with the resumption of ceasefire talks. The Senators also expressed opposition to 'permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian people.' 'To prevent the situation from getting even worse, we urge you to advocate for a large-scale expansion of humanitarian assistance and services throughout the Gaza Strip, including through the use of experienced multilateral bodies and NGOs that can get life-saving aid directly to those in need and prevent diversion,' the letter reads. Contact us at letters@
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Breakaway African region courts U.S. with military base, minerals in push for recognition
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is offering the United States a military base near the mouth of the Red Sea and access to critical minerals as part of its bid for international recognition. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and seeks U.S. recognition offering strategic cooperation. Somaliland's president is negotiating with U.S. officials for military and economic partnerships amid African geopolitics. Somaliland claims to provide security benefits, highlighting its peaceful status compared to Somalia's instability. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is offering the United States a military base near the mouth of the Red Sea and access to critical minerals as part of its bid for international recognition. Although Washington continues to recognise Somalia's sovereignty over the territory, Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is actively courting US support, positioning the semi-autonomous region in the broader contest for strategic influence and resources in Africa, as both China and the US seek to deepen their footprint on the continent, according to a Bloomberg report. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who took office as president of Somaliland in 2024, said his administration is in talks with the U.S. Embassy in Somalia and the Department of Defence to forge new partnerships focused on security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation. Somaliland has sought international recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. While Somalia has endured decades of civil war and Islamist insurgency, Somaliland has remained largely peaceful, making it an appealing partner for foreign powers looking to bolster regional security. ' If the US is interested to land in Somaliland they are most welcome,' Abdullahi said, adding he would be prepared to offer the US a critical-minerals deal for products such as lithium. Strategic stakes at the Red Sea gateway Recognising Somaliland could bolster America's strategic positioning at the Red Sea's gateway, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted ships linked to the U.S., Israel, and other nations supporting the war in Gaza. However, recognition poses diplomatic risks. Washington would have to weigh its support for Somaliland against its broader security ties with Somalia, where the U.S. has played a leading role in countering Islamic State and Al-Qaeda affiliates. Though Ambassador Richard Riley and other American officials have met with Somaliland's leadership to explore mutual interests in the Horn of Africa, the U.S. State Department said it is not in active talks about recognising Somaliland as an independent state. 'The United States recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, which includes Somaliland,' the department said in a statement. President Abdullahi said he plans to visit the United States soon and emphasised that Somaliland's offer of economic and security cooperation, including potential deals on critical minerals, is not contingent on formal recognition from Washington or Donald Trump. When asked about the possibility of hosting a U.S. military base, he said discussions are still ongoing. 'We are now still discussing issues. We are looking forward to that discussion bearing fruit in the future,' he said. Somaliland's presence in Africa remains unanchored. Though it broke away from Somalia over 30 years ago, it has yet to gain formal recognition as an independent state from either the African Union (AU) or the United Nations (UN).
